Argentine ops: advice needed

[John Eacott]

A friend has a need for a suitable operator for a Mining project in Argentina: they will be up in Catamarca and Salta in the High Andes.

They may need a helicopter to operate into some sites at around 4500' ASL, and will need to carry three people plus lift in some quad bikes and equipment.

Any advice/recommendations gratefully received :ok:

[petit plateau]

I can't remember who we used, but Shell Aviation will be able to tell you. It was on the Valle Morado / Rio Colorado seismic work in about 2000 and the operations were very similar to yours. The seismic manager was Jean Luis Teurlai (contact him here Accueil > Prsentation du consultant (http://www.hseconsult.com/English/English_Presentation.html) ). Also Pan American Energy (PAE) did similar seismic stuff with some chopper support, based further north out of Tartagal rather than where we were based in the Oran area. Absolutely gorgeous area.

[petit plateau]

JLT ran the seismic jobs, is an HSE specialist, speaks fluent Spanish, and knows Argentina (and other bits of LatAm, or everywhere for that matter), and will know who provided the aircraft, and have a view on the alternatives, and suitable local specialist advisers, etc. (I haven't met him since then so have no interest in passing the contact except to assist).

Apologies for picking the wrong bit of Shell.

We were working in the 500-1500m altitude zone just as it kicks up towards the major peaks. The hydrocarbon reservoirs tend to be in that zone. If you are into mineral mining they can be much higher up.

If you are stuck then drop me a line and I'll enquire through my links in Salta/Jujuy etc.

ds/pp

[maalsy]

John,
You should contact Helicopteros Marinos in B.A.([email protected])
They have plenty of experience, both on/offshore (they have been serving Total Austral in southern Argentina for over 30 years).

[John Eacott]

petit plateau and maalsy, thanks for such a prompt and helpful response :ok:

[Granny]

Why would you want an "Aviation saftey advisor"-just hire a local company with experienced pilots. My experience with Aviation saftey advisors' on exploration and drilling jobs is that they are generally full of sh*t and are more often than not ex pilots who were incapable of longline and moving a drill,who then, reinvented themselves as an "Aviation saftey Advisor".
Seen it all before!

[EBCAU]

Here, here Granny!:ok:

[flight4]

I am based in Argentina with local contacts for most of the helicopters available in Argentina!

[email protected]

Ken

[Thomas coupling]

John,
In case you want several options:

Home (http://www.flightsafetyservices.com/Home.html)

About Aviation Safety Consulting Limited (http://www.asc-limited.co.uk/id1.html)

Both guys have loads of hot, high and hostile experiences (including those from granny and ebcau!).